Wednesday, December 30, 2009

With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors Bill Mauldin, one of America’s favorite cartoonists. During World War II, military readers got a knowing laugh from Mauldin’s characters Willie and Joe, who gave their civilian audience an idea of what life was like for soldiers. After the war, Mauldin became a popular and influential editorial cartoonist. The stamp goes on sale in March.

In 1945, he won a Pulitzer Prize “for distinguished service as a cartoonist” and the Allied high command awarded him its Legion of Merit. His illustrated memoir, Up Front, was a bestseller. That same year, his “dogface” Willie appeared on the cover of Time.

U.S. Postal Service art director Terry McCaffrey chose to honor Mauldin through a combination of photography and an example of Mauldin’s art. The photo of Bill Mauldin is by John Phillips, a photographer for Life magazine; it was taken in Italy on December 31, 1943. Mauldin’s cartoon, showing his characters Willie and Joe, is used courtesy of the 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Sunday Funnies stamp pane honors Archie, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes. The stamps will go on sale in July.

Offering an idealized portrait of American adolescence, Archie existed only in comic-book form before debuting in newspapers in 1946. A typical small-town teenager with a knack for goofing things up, 17-year-old Archie Andrews is often torn between haughty brunette Veronica Lodge and sweet, blonde Betty Cooper.

A military strip with universal appeal, Beetle Bailey first appeared in September 1950. Possibly the laziest man in the army, Private Beetle Bailey is an expert at sleeping and avoiding work. His chronic indolence antagonizes Sergeant Orville P. Snorkel, who is tough on his men but calls them “my boys.”

Dennis the Menace follows the antics of Dennis Mitchell, a good-hearted but mischievous little boy who is perpetually “5-ana-half” years old. His curiosity tests the patience of his loving parents and neighbors, guaranteeing that their lives are anything but dull. The comic debuted in March 1951 as a single-panel gag.

Garfield first waddled onto the comics page in June 1978. Self-centered and cynical, the crabby tabby hates Mondays and loves lasagna. He lives with Jon Arbuckle, a bumbling bachelor with a fatally flawed fashion sense, and Odie, a dopey but devoted dog.

Calvin and Hobbes explores the fantasy life of 6-year-old Calvin and his tiger pal, Hobbes. The inseparable friends ponder the mysteries of the world and test the fortitude of Calvin’s parents, who never know where their son’s imagination will take him. The strip ran from November 1985 to December 1995.

Mauldin's work was also featured in one of the World War II 50th anniversary panes. Mort Walker, creator of Beetle Bailey was instrumental in getting the last set of comic strip stamps issued. Most of the Sunday Funnies seem to be aimed at commercialism and collectors though. Archie has been in the news this year for his 'marriage' to Veronica (and Betty. Read the comic books) and a collection of the strip is due next year. Garfield continues to be one of the most popular strips of course, and has appeared on non-American stamps.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

I thought you might like this Holiday stamp. It's a little late because, when I first drew it, I thought it wasn't cartoonish enough for cartoonphilately. So I put it on my own website: tthelitestuffcartoons.comBut then I thought, well, it is Christmasy, and it is a fairly clever takeoff on the "Love Stamp." So if you can use it on your stamp blog....

Meanwhile, it's just a coincidence that I have 2 recent cartoon stamps. The peace stamp has been on my mind for over a year and i just got around to drawing it. Usually my stamp ideas are far and few between.

I'm passing this along to the blog as requested. Mr. Wilson is hoping to get $300 for the book. I don't know him personally, so if one is interested, one should do one's due diligence. Mr. Wilson plans on putting the book up for auction next Saturday.

I AM ED WILSON, IN MT. VERNON, OHIO. I AM A BOOK COLLECTOR AND GEM CUTTER.

I PURCHASED A SUNDAY CARTOON STAMP COLLECTION OF OVER 700 SUNDAY CARTOON STAMPS FROM 1933. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. MOST OF THEM SAY " COMIC STAMP" AND THEY ARE GLUED INTO AN OLD 1911 LEDGER THAT WAS ORIGINALLY A POSTAGE STAMP COLLECTION THAT THE FATHER STARTED FOR HIS DAUGHTER WHO COLLECTED THE 700 PLUS COMIC STAMPS.

THER ARE ALSO OVER 500 SUNDAY COMIC "TRUE FACT VIGNETTES ?" FROM THE SAME YEAR WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE , TRIVIA, BIOLOGY, SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATIONAL FLAGS ETC.

I AM VERY CLOSE TO ENTERING THEM IN MY RARE BOOK AUCTION NEXT WEEK, BUT I THOUGHT PERHAPS WITH YOUR STRONG INTEREST IN PRESERVING THIS KIND OF HISTORY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE IT OUTRIGHT.

Today the French Post Office announced a new sheet celebrating the 50th anniversary of BD hero Astérix Le Gaule. It features seven stamps with the main characters from the series created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. Each of the stamps mentions France as their country of origin, but also Gaule, the country's name in the series.

The main stamp, showing Astérix himself on top of a golden "50" is also available as a solo stamp.

Additionally, an illustrated booklet was published showcasing the comic, and containing a cancelled stamp.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Brad Mackay has an excellent post up at his Cultural Magpie blog on cartoonist George Feyer's drawings based around postage stamps. This book looks like an excellent addition to any cartoon stamp collection.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I've just gotten a couple of Christmas cancellations with Kermit the frog, from the Muppets, wearing a Santa cap. They've all been inkjet and probably read A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (according to Bill Sylvester, whose done a lot of work on Disney stamps).

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Mark Doeffinger writes in, "I haven't noticed a lot of activity lately on your cartoon stamps blog, so I thought I'd send this cartoon along. . I plan to post it at a later date on my website: thelitestuffcartoons.com"

Aw, thanks Mark! It is true that most of the cartoon stamp news comes out of Europe and I'm always way behind.

Why stamps and cartoons?

This blog exists to discuss cartoonists and postage stamps especially new issues and discoveries, and to promote collecting and trading topicals. Postage stamps featuring cartoonists are popular especially in Europe. Cartoonist is defined broadly includes comic book or strip artists, caricaturists, editorial cartoonists, animators and animation, or gag cartoonists. Postage stamp can include cinderellas or fake stamps.